Drinks for Noon Kickoff

Thanks to the noon kickoff, many college football fans must get their drink on early—often delicately balancing effects from the previous night’s imbibing. Here are three drinks that are easy to assemble, will ease a hangover, provide a needed jolt, and will get you back up and running before toe meets leather.

Apple Cider Mimosas

Mimosas are a great way to start the day as the bubbles clear out the sinuses and snap you awake. Orange juice is the traditional juice of choice, but there are so many other delicious options out there as well. With a nod to fall, we’ll go with a fresh apple cider. And instead of a champagne proper, we’ve opted for a refreshing, dry prosecco.

DIRECTIONS
Combine sugar and cinnamon on a small plate. Wet the rim of a champagne flute with water then dip it into the mixture. Fill the champagne flute a quarter of the way with apple cider and take it to rim with the sparkling wine. Garnish with mint.

Bloody Mary

Probably the most common hangover cure, the bloody mary uses vegetables to settle the stomach, salt to replace electrolytes, and alcohol to numb the head. Over the years, people have added/changed so many ingredients that it is not only acceptable but expected to alter the original recipe to taste. (You can mix this in advance or doctor your favorite mix.) A recent signature of the drink has become lavish garnishes, to include mini cheeseburgers, waffles, mozzarella sticks, and whatever else, making the drink a blank canvas for tailgating fare. We’re going full tailgate mode by making a pitcher with extra hot sauce and topping it with buffalo wings.

DIRECTIONS
Pour the celery salt on a plate. Cut the lemon into quarters, using one to rim the serving glasses. Juice and drop the remaining lemon and the lime into a 2 quart pitcher. Add the remaining ingredients and stir. Serve either in shooter glasses or tall glasses with ice. Garnish with a chicken wing.

Spiked Sweet Tea

The Southern cure for a hangover involves chicken and biscuits, and sweet tea. This drink takes it up a few notches. When making your own sweet tea, brew it normally and dissolve in enough sugar to taste. Then dissolve in an additional 3 tablespoons of sugar per glass. We’re making this drink with vodka, but another great option includes replacing that with gin and 1/2 an ounce each of sweet and dry vermouth.

DIRECTIONS
Fill four tall glasses with ice. Juice an orange and drop it into a shaker. Add Grand Marnier, vodka, and ice. Shake and strain the mixture equally into the glasses. Fill the glasses with sweet tea and garnish with a lemon wedge.